Clavicle Fracture

DISABILITY BENEFIT AND TAX CREDIT

FOR CLAVICLE FRACTURE

Introduction

A clavicle fracture (commonly called a broken collarbone) is a musculoskeletal injury wherein there is a break in the clavicle or collarbone. It is a common injury to children and young adults (especially athletes) that results from an impact to the shoulders.

The clavicles are a pair of slender bones, connecting the breastbone and the shoulder blades horizontally. They aid in connecting the arms to the body. These two bones are often noticeable in most people.

This injury can easily be prevented with proper care and vigilance especially when engaging in contact sports. It is also important that the bones are kept strong, including the muscles, in order to prevent fractures from occurring.

Causes

Clavicle fractures are the results of accidents, where pressure that is greater than the bone can handle causes is it to snap and be broken. This type of fracture commonly occurs in three situations: when a person receives a hit to the shoulder (such as in contact sports), when an individual falls on his/her outstretched arm (slipping and losing balance), and when the clavicle gets a direct blow (such as in collisions or car accidents). In rare cases, a broken collarbone can happen to an infant during childbirth.

This type of injury is common to people who are exposed to activities that has an increased chance of getting hit, falling down hard, and colliding with people and other hard objects.

Signs and Symptoms

A clavicle fracture may present a variety of signs and symptoms. Included in the listing are:

Swelling, tenderness, and/or pain in the involved area which worsened with movement;

Presence of a bump or a bulge right by the injury site;

A snapping or cracking sound that is heard upon movement of the shoulder or arm;

Inability or difficulty to move the shoulder; and

Sagging of the affected shoulder.

Treatment

To determine whether the clavicle really is fractured after an injury, radiologic images in the form of x-ray visualizations are usually taken. After assessing the injury for the extent of the damage, the physician then plans the course of treatment to be taken.

Normally, a clavicle fracture will heal on its own, together with proper nonsurgical interventions such as arm support (using a sling and figure-of-eight splint), pain relief, and rest. Healing time may take three to six weeks in children, and about six to eight weeks in adults.

Other serious cases may need surgical treatment, as necessary. Surgery is applicable to cases where the bone breaks through the skin, is broken into a number of pieces, and if the bone has been seriously displaced. Fixation devices such as pins and screws are usually used to maintain the proper position of the bone during the healing process.

After initial treatment is done, rehabilitation is commenced in order to regain the use of the shoulder and arm of the injured side. Physical therapy, including range-of-motion exercises, is implemented to bring back muscle strength and joint mobility.

Disability Tax Credits for Clavicle Fracture

A clavicle fracture can hinder the movements of the arm on the affected side. It can also cause other inconveniences to the person who is unfortunate enough to suffer from thesituation. If you have broken your clavicle recently and are recovering from it, perhaps you can benefit from a disability tax refund due to this condition. To know more about disability tax credits from the Canadian Revenue Agency, you can place a call to one of the friendly agents at HandyTax. Call now, and be on your way to filing for that disability tax refund claim.

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